I am a teacher at Vaughan Elementary School in Powder Springs, Georgia,
a suburb of Atlanta. I have been teaching for fourteen years,
and have taught kindergarten, fifth grade, and gifted education grades
1-5. Currently, I am teaching fourth and fifth grade gifted
students, and although our curriculum is multidisciplinary, my interest
and love is science.

I
graduated from Presbyterian College in 1992 with a degree in elementary
education and psychology and returned to Kennesaw State University
in 2001 to work on a biology degree and then Master’s of Science
Education. I love learning and constantly seek opportunities
to expand my horizons and learn new skills. This past summer I joined
a coral reef research expedition to Punta Gorda, Belize and helped
collect data on the abundance, health, and variety of various fish
species in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.

I
enjoy participating in aerospace activities and am active in the
Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers. In 1999, I attended
a NASA Education Workshop in Langley, Virginia. Our team spent two
weeks visiting with and learning from the scientists and engineers
in the structures and materials laboratory, wind tunnels, aircraft
landing dynamics facility, and the impact dynamics research facility. We
then worked together to develop lesson plans that contained hands-on
inquiry based activities based on the work being done at Langley. In
addition to this experience I have attended Space Camp for Educators,
Advanced Space Academy and attend the Space Exploration Educator’s
Conference on a yearly basis.

Personally, I love adventure and the great outdoors. I enjoy
hiking and camping and occasionally I do a little mountain biking
and climbing. Tennis and ultimate Frisbee are my two favorite
sports to play. Some of my other hobbies are scuba diving,
playing the guitar, flying, and painting.

I am very excited about the opportunity to participate in the Spaceward
Bound: Mojave Expedition. I know it will be an incredible learning
experience and I can’t wait to learn more about lunar geology
and Mars geology and astrobiology. I am particularly looking
forward to sharing the experience with my students, colleagues, and
community.